Canyon Falls & Crawford Falls in Kelowna - Closed forever?

It looked like it was going to be a wonderful day hiking to the falls.  But then ...
It turns out that the trail for Canyon Falls is closed, at least from this end.

I was very much looking forward to hiking the trail down to Canyon and Crawford Falls.  I had read about them, seen numerous reviews and photos on them, and was enjoying the 8° C weather that had finally come our way at the end of January, 2026.  The view at the top of the canyon was terrific, there was lots of parking, and there was no rain in the forecast.  This was going to be fun.

We saw the sign for the trailhead - it's always appreciated finding a clear marker for where you are or are going.  The anticipation grew; my camera was ready and our dog was relishing a hike with his humans.  All was well, until we descended a little further along the trail.  Then reality hit.  

The trail was closed.

I talked to some local people who said that some just ignored the warning, jumped the fence, and went on the walk anyways.  I understand that the city could be held responsible if it had not closed the trail and someone got hurt. But, then, they could fix it.

Well, there's an idea.  Kelowna is widely known as the "Jewel of the Okanagan."  With its numerous trails, bike lanes, waterfalls, wineries, beaches, lakes, and vistas, the area no doubt fits the moniker in many ways.  Google AI reports that, "Based on recent reports, multiple "canyon" trails in the Kelowna area have closures: The Canyon Rim Trail west of Westside Road is closed indefinitely as of January, 2025. Additionally, a section of the Mission Creek Greenway/Scenic Canyon has been closed due to 2022 flooding, and the Canyon Falls Park trail has faced closures due to instability. "

Wouldn't it be great if the "Jewel of the Okanagan" actually had a few great gems in its arsenal to back up the claim?  Great vistas, but sorry, you can't actually visit them.  Kind of like having wineries that make wine but don't allow visitation.  Sounds great on paper.  Not so much in reality.

It makes me wonder what other remarkable tourist attractions there are that are visible online but otherwise unavailable.  Virtual tourism.  Certainly cheaper than fixing the problem in the first place.

I added this image of the falls I took from the parking lot.  I just found a review saying it is closed.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Harjit Bahia - Science teacher and colleague from Garibaldi died August 2, 2024

Image
You will be missed Mr. Bahia.  You made a difference and we are sad you are gone. I keep in loose contact with my fellow retired teachers from Garibaldi Secondary School.  I talked with my long-time friend, Mike Lynch, today, and discovered that Hargit died over the summer.  Unbeknownst to him, he had an underlying heart condition and passed away after working out on his treadmill.  The date was August 2, 2024. I was shocked to hear this.  He was only 49 years old, turning 50 some 3 months later.  It was a shock to everyone, for he was loved by all who knew him.  As a teacher, Mr. Bahia was kind and fun.  He contributed to students in many ways and was always available to help those in need.   For myself, I knew him as a fellow science teacher and taught in the adjoining room to him.  He was always available to help, share ideas, and work together.  Easy to approach, I found that I could talk to him about anything and appreciat...
Read more

My longsuffering search for the Western Meadowlark

Image
Am I going to disturb a species I am photographing enough to negatively affect its relationship with the ecosystem?  This is an important ethical question that needs to be asked when looking to photograph a particular species.  And it's one that I don't think we do nearly often enough. I recognize the desire to capture remarkable images; I have been in search of premium photos the bulk of my adult life.  There is the personal connection - just the joy associated with doing something well and the praise we seek when others recognize it.  There is the professional connection - doing something as part of a job, assignment, or class.  Then there is the financial connection - the hope to win a contest, publish an image, or sell prints.   These are all worthy goals in their own right, but none of them should be the reason behind disturbing a species, especially ones that are endangered or are at a critical period in their life cycle.  Essentially it boi...
Read more

Munson pond - before and after road development

Image
Left - Google maps view of Munson Pond as of May 15, 2025 Right - Future view of Munson Pond from Google maps Munson Pond is a jewel of Kelowna.  Even though it used to be an open gravel pit, it is now home to countless birds and mammals and a haven for humans needing peace, a breath of fresh air, and a touch of nature.  Western Pond turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act.  Their population is such that people lose count when trying to ascertain their number.   With the proposed road development, Munson Pond will lose valuable ecologically important land, will suffer from an increase in urban traffic, and will likely be affected by nearby housing developments that are sure to come.  All of this development will put more pressure on the inhabitants and result in a decrease in both biodiversity and population.   A further injury to the pond will be an increase in eutrophication due to nearby residential and commercial development....
Read more